Tag: perception

The Beauty of Aging

35 Best Birthday Quotes - Happy Birthday Wishes, Quotes, and Messages

Life isn’t about your age. Life is about living. So when your birthday comes be thankful for the year that has just past and anticipate with a happy heart what the coming year will bring -Catherine Pulsifer

Life is about living, seeing everything as a gift.  When a Birthday arrives, it’s a celebration of YOUR divinity.  Your Birthday is that special moment in time, when you were created.  Each breathe an extension to your soul.  Grateful for your memories, experiences that have contributed to you who you are.  To be alive here and now.  

What does the process of aging signify to you?  Do you define yourself by a number or can get beyond this paradigm?  You are daily evolving into the best version of yourself.  Seeing the development of your spirit at any given age.  Appreciating all you have, the daily blessings.  Over the summer of 2021, I turned 40 – a milestone.  That big BIRTHDAY!  I could feel something stirring inside me.  Knowing that things are about to shake up this decade.  An end to playing it safe, and time to embark on a new horizon.  Inner growth and an anticipation for a new phase of life.  

Prior to turning 40, a few of my girlfriends offered their sentiments.  It was articulated that 40 would  bring some unrest.  There will be soul-searching, questioning my life path and who I AM.  I thought to myself, “I do this daily”.  Truth be told, turning 40 was not a simple process.  Even to write this blog-post I hesitated, as to whether I wanted to share my experience.  After a peaceful meditation, the decision was clear.  I needed to share my story.  It is being honest with ourselves that helps one heal and assist others.  Maybe this is what was meant all along?    

The years ahead are ours to win and cherish. We cannot let anything, least of all our age, stand in our way! -Tina Sloan

My 40th was spent with my family.  This filled my heart with such compassion and love.  I could not have asked for a better celebration.  Being in the company of family is all one needs to feel cherished.  I had every type of Italian dessert you could imagine and was surrounded by love.  Phone calls from family and friends lifted the spirit.  

On the opposite side of the pendulum, I kept thinking where have the last 40  years of my life gone?  I wanted to avoid my emotions and was in denial.  I felt inadequate unworthiness crept in.  My choices, decisions and past were all flooding forward.  I thought by 40, I would have my life together.  What does having together really mean anyway?  I had to allow this to surface.  Release all preconceived notions and judgments.  There was a long list and I was tormenting myself.  I needed to embrace all contrasting emotions to find clarity.  This was a turning point.  There were plenty of tears, ice-cream and journaling.

Spiritually speaking, I was being governed by my ego.  Sitting in regret and unkind to my heart.  It took an enlightening conversation with my brother to break the funk.  I was thankful for his insight.  He offered words of guidance that allowed me to soften.  Age is meaningless, and can not let this rule your life.  Try not to allow a number to define your existence.  What we need to give more attention to is our consciousness and passions.  No matter what age you are, follow your passions.  This will always keep you young at heart. 

There is a fountain of youth: it is your mind, your talents, the creativity you bring to your life and the lives of the people you love. When you learn to tap this source, you will truly have defeated age. –Sophia Loren 

With every age you will shift.  Your insights will change continuously.  It is your perception on how you grasp experiences.  This defines your character.  I often question whether women or men feel societal expectations with becoming older?  We may all feel this at any stage of our lives.  One can not allow to be influenced by media or societal pressures.  Count your blessings, instead of the candles on your cake.  See the beauty of all the daily positive influences around you.  You are golden. 

Your life is a gift.  What holds significance is how much you value yourself.  Life is a paradox.  We are here for a brief period, learning lessons and evolving our mind.  I finish with this, adhere to what sparks the light within.  Advocate for yourself, be subversive, create the life you are destined for.  The blessing of 40 has shown me, it’s time to live my dreams.  To take the reign of my life.  I hope at any age you do this as well.  Live each day as if it’s – YOUR BIRTHDAY.  

I believe the second half of one’s life is meant to be better than the first half. The first half is finding out how you do it. And the second half is enjoying it -Frances Lear

Innsaei – The Sea Within

Image result for deep intuition quotes images

Intuition is seeing with the soul. –Dean Koontz

It was a few years ago, when I watched a documentary called Innsaei on Netflix.  It is no coincidence that I recently found this article on an old laptop.  It was a frigid winter’s day in 2018, and I was feeling under the weather.  A cold was brewing and my soul needed tending on every level.  During times when a cold emerges – it’s time to go inwards and be still.  On this particular day, I stumbled upon a Netflix documentary that spoke to the soul.  Innsaei, written by Hrund Gunnstiensdottir and Kristin Olafsdottir from Iceland.  At that precise moment, everything made sense – intuition is always working on your behalf.

Innsaei is an Icelandic term – translates to seeing from the inside out.  The sea within –  to perceive  yourself.  The documentary was about soul-searching and tuning into your intuition.  The narrator was sharing her own personal legend.  The questions I pose to you – how would life unfold if you let go of distractions, inner dialogue and most importantly stress?  This is exactly what inspired her to write this documentary.  

The film begins with Hrund, leaving a career indefinitely with the  United Nations.  She felt the UN was keeping her back from the life path she was intended for.  Hrund wanted to connect with people.  Share their stories, visions and perception on living a holistic life.  This brave soul was choosing to go against the grain, leaving the conventional.  The documentary intertwines the arts, spirituality, psychology, and education.   

The filmmaker’s compelling narrative was a masterpiece.  Something that I needed to hear on that particular day.  Her burnout, disconnect from her workplace created space for opportunities.  One could sense, she lost purpose with serving a system of bureaucracy and financial rewards.  Her heart was interested in serving humanity – Mother Earth.  

The Narrator left her lucrative job and dove into the unfamiliar.  I know for many of us, the unknown can be daunting or even terrifying.  You are in the uncomfortable and the only thing to do is surrender to divine grace.  The void of the unknown is where transformation begins.  There was a vision the filmmaker had which propelled her life forward.  At the age of 60, she would travel the entire globe.  Her desire was to meet people and inspire humanity.  She was going to be the writer she dreamt of being, collecting stories and uniting hearts.  The realization was the United Nations career no longer kept her motivated.  It was time to move onto something new.  

Practice listening to your intuition, your inner voice; ask questions; be curious; see what you see; hear what you hear; and then act upon what you know to be true. These intuitive powers were given to your soul at birth. —Clarissa Pinkola Estés

What is Intuition:

Intuition is your inner source of guidance.  When you are in a state of equanimity and flow your intuition begins to whisper.  It is that gut feeling you have about a particular situation, person or circumstance.  The quiet voice within, that you may disregard is spirit talking to you.  There are times when I have not listened to my intuition, however experiences became blessings in disguise.  

The narrator traveled around the world to find the true meaning of intuition, and why we should use this inner intelligence to govern our lives. Here are three enlightening stories you may connect to with regards to intuition.  

  1. Interview with Malidoma Patrice, West African Leader/Elder

Malidoma Patrice, believed that Mother Earth is a symbol of the wound that all which live in it.  Nature is a silent witness of intuition.  Nature speaks in all kinds of languages.  Our eyes, and ears are to hear and see, something that we often disregard.  The sense of the internal.  What is blocking us is the world noise of distractions.  Nature is how we ignite our intuition.  “Intuition binds us together” every human being. 

  1. Marina Abramovic – Grandmother of Performing Arts

Marina Abramovic, known as a Visual Arts Medium.  She is a performance artist, writer and filmmaker.  She uses her body to connect to emotions and the audience.  Her message is to confront pain by observation and focus.  Abramovic, teaches that ‘in order to create something new, human beings need to go into the unknown”.  Intuition is something not to be afraid of.  We all have inner gifts inside waiting to be expressed.  Whether you are an artist, chef, poet or composer, your talents impact the world.  Release your fears, honour your talents, you give others the courage to pursue their calling.    

  1.  British School – Mindfulness

The narrator went to a school in the United Kingdom.  Here she was shown how moments of mindfulness impact the behaviour and attitude of students.  It was a new way of learning, as facilitators incorporated breathing practices, meditation and yoga into education.  Children, even adults need time to breathe, connect with their hearts and have moments of stillness.  The element of mindfulness allows one to be fully present in a state of peace.       

What this documentary gave me was clarity.  That everyone has their own unique timeline.  Life unfolds the way it is supposed to.  Focus on your daily objectives, wins and things which touch your spirit.  It is never about anyone else but you.  Suffering brings you closer to the higher-power for a reason.  You need to create space for faith and your vision.  Intuition is connecting to your higher self, it will never lead you astray.  If you are at a crossroads in your life, may the next step elevate you towards your dream  Allow the forces of nature to guide you, remember to seek within.      

Come from the heart, the true heart, not the head. When in doubt, choose the heart. This does not mean to deny your own experiences and that which you have empirically learned through the years. It means to trust yourself to integrate intuition and experience. There is a balance, a harmony to be nurtured, between the head and the heart. When the intuition rings clear and true, loving impulses are favored. –Brian Weiss

Poetry by – Becca Lee

Image result for becca leePoetry for the heart by Becca Lee.  Just at the moon has its phases of expansion and growth so do we.  Change takes time and be gentle with yourself.  Always know you are learning valuable life lessons each day.  Your time is coming to shed your wings and fly.    Remember its not about the destination but the journey.  Reflect, surrender and shine.